Vibe: Retro Jazz Lounge | Sophisticated & Social | Urban Speakeasy
Mr. Tipple’s Jazz Club — often referred to by its full name, Mr. Tipple’s Recording Studio — is a centerpiece of the Civic Center jazz scene. It channels the feel of a mid‑century recording studio, blending industrial‑chic details with a warm, retro atmosphere. The room walks a careful line between serious listening space and lively social lounge, making it equally welcoming for deep‑in jazz heads and friends just out for a night in the city.
Live Music & Atmosphere
Music runs nightly with a rotation of top Bay Area players, from straight‑ahead bebop trios to modern, more experimental quartets. The room layout supports both listening and conversation: a front bar area for socializing and a dedicated seating section closer to the stage for those who want to focus on the performance. Sightlines are good, the sound is tuned for intimacy, and sets tend to feel tight rather than background.
Amy D brings her luminescent voice and timeless sound to Mr. Tipple's Recording Studio — a San Jose native now based in Oakland, she has graced stages throughout the Bay Area and beyond since 2010, including SFJAZZ, Yoshi's Oakland, San Jose Jazz Summer Fest, and the Healdsburg Jazz Festival, drawing from jazz, soul, and R&B...
Amy D brings her luminescent voice and timeless sound to Mr. Tipple's Recording Studio — a San Jose native now based in Oakland, she has graced stages throughout the Bay Area and beyond since 2010, including SFJAZZ, Yoshi's Oakland, San Jose Jazz Summer Fest, and the Healdsburg Jazz Festival, drawing from jazz, soul, and R&B...
Laura Dreyer brings a world-class voice to Mr. Tipple's Recording Studio — a New York-based saxophonist, woodwind artist, and composer originally from the San Francisco Bay Area whose catchy original compositions weave lyrical melodies with jazz and Brazilian rhythms into an exciting, contemporary sound. A seasoned recording artist with five albums as a leader —...
Laura Dreyer brings a world-class voice to Mr. Tipple's Recording Studio — a New York-based saxophonist, woodwind artist, and composer originally from the San Francisco Bay Area whose catchy original compositions weave lyrical melodies with jazz and Brazilian rhythms into an exciting, contemporary sound. A seasoned recording artist with five albums as a leader —...
Benno Marmur brings the sophisticated swing of New York City's finest rooms to Mr. Tipple's — a highly sought-after guitarist whose career has taken him to the stages of Smalls, Jazz at Lincoln Center's Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, The Iridium, Minton's Playhouse in Harlem, and venues across Ireland, Georgia, and beyond. A Cellar Live recording artist,...
Benno Marmur brings the sophisticated swing of New York City's finest rooms to Mr. Tipple's — a highly sought-after guitarist whose career has taken him to the stages of Smalls, Jazz at Lincoln Center's Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, The Iridium, Minton's Playhouse in Harlem, and venues across Ireland, Georgia, and beyond. A Cellar Live recording artist,...
Charles Chen brings the full depth of a Bay Area jazz life to Mr. Tipple's in a special album release concert for his newest recording, The Long Way Home. The San Francisco Bay Area pianist has performed and recorded alongside an extraordinary roster of jazz luminaries — Randy Brecker, Billy Drummond, Bob Sheppard, Roy McCurdy,...
Charles Chen brings the full depth of a Bay Area jazz life to Mr. Tipple's in a special album release concert for his newest recording, The Long Way Home. The San Francisco Bay Area pianist has performed and recorded alongside an extraordinary roster of jazz luminaries — Randy Brecker, Billy Drummond, Bob Sheppard, Roy McCurdy,...
Mauricio Morales brings the rich musical heritage of Mexico and the vibrant creative energy of Los Angeles to Mr. Tipple's — a versatile acoustic and electric bassist, composer, and arranger whose command of both instruments speaks to a deep and wide-ranging musical vision. Joining him are alto saxophonist Devin Daniels, pianist Adam Hersh, and drummer...
Mauricio Morales brings the rich musical heritage of Mexico and the vibrant creative energy of Los Angeles to Mr. Tipple's — a versatile acoustic and electric bassist, composer, and arranger whose command of both instruments speaks to a deep and wide-ranging musical vision. Joining him are alto saxophonist Devin Daniels, pianist Adam Hersh, and drummer...
Ralph Alessi brings the refined, adventurous sound of a true ECM artist to Mr. Tipple's — the San Francisco-born trumpeter and composer has spent decades at the forefront of creative jazz, recording and performing alongside Fred Hersch, Steve Coleman, Ravi Coltrane, Jason Moran, Sam Rivers, Tim Berne, Uri Caine, and many others. His fifth record...
Ralph Alessi brings the refined, adventurous sound of a true ECM artist to Mr. Tipple's — the San Francisco-born trumpeter and composer has spent decades at the forefront of creative jazz, recording and performing alongside Fred Hersch, Steve Coleman, Ravi Coltrane, Jason Moran, Sam Rivers, Tim Berne, Uri Caine, and many others. His fifth record...
The Brian Andres Quartet brings world-class percussion mastery and a lifetime of Latin jazz immersion to Mr. Tipple's, led by Bay Area drummer and bandleader Brian Andres — a Cincinnati-born musician raised in a household of professional musicians whose diverse career has taken him from performances with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members Little...
The Brian Andres Quartet brings world-class percussion mastery and a lifetime of Latin jazz immersion to Mr. Tipple's, led by Bay Area drummer and bandleader Brian Andres — a Cincinnati-born musician raised in a household of professional musicians whose diverse career has taken him from performances with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members Little...
The David Blake Quartet brings Brooklyn's post-bop vitality to Mr. Tipple's, led by Canadian-born guitarist David Blake on tour supporting his upcoming album Radio Casual — due out summer 2026 on Cellar Music — and featuring rising star pianist Dabin Ryu, drummer Jonas Esser, and bassist Warren Louie. From modal romps to collective improvisation, this...
The David Blake Quartet brings Brooklyn's post-bop vitality to Mr. Tipple's, led by Canadian-born guitarist David Blake on tour supporting his upcoming album Radio Casual — due out summer 2026 on Cellar Music — and featuring rising star pianist Dabin Ryu, drummer Jonas Esser, and bassist Warren Louie. From modal romps to collective improvisation, this...
Mr. Tipples welcomes the Lunar Sextet, a reduced version of the Lunar Octet, which is celebrating their 41st year of playing original Latin Jazz from their base in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The band plays original and eclectic music drawing on Cuban and Puerto Rican salsa, rock, African high-life music, and Brazilian sambas to forge a...
Mr. Tipples welcomes the Lunar Sextet, a reduced version of the Lunar Octet, which is celebrating their 41st year of playing original Latin Jazz from their base in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The band plays original and eclectic music drawing on Cuban and Puerto Rican salsa, rock, African high-life music, and Brazilian sambas to forge a...
Saxophonist, composer, and educator Beth Schenck brings her boundary-pushing musical voice to Mr. Tipple's Recording Studio, drawing from a rich web of collaborative projects across the Bay Area experimental and jazz scenes. Her work spans the Beth Schenck Quintet, the Social Stutter Saxophone Quartet, House of Faern with Jenny Scheinman, and Sifter, among many others...
Saxophonist, composer, and educator Beth Schenck brings her boundary-pushing musical voice to Mr. Tipple's Recording Studio, drawing from a rich web of collaborative projects across the Bay Area experimental and jazz scenes. Her work spans the Beth Schenck Quintet, the Social Stutter Saxophone Quartet, House of Faern with Jenny Scheinman, and Sifter, among many others...
Karina Denike and the Cottontails bring a one-of-a-kind sound to Mr. Tipple's Recording Studio, led by San Francisco songstress, chanteuse, arranger, and songwriter Karina Denike. Her original music is a haunting and irresistible blend of 1930s seaside shanties, 1960s girl group harmony, and noir soundtracks — a style entirely her own. Bay Area audiences may...
Karina Denike and the Cottontails bring a one-of-a-kind sound to Mr. Tipple's Recording Studio, led by San Francisco songstress, chanteuse, arranger, and songwriter Karina Denike. Her original music is a haunting and irresistible blend of 1930s seaside shanties, 1960s girl group harmony, and noir soundtracks — a style entirely her own. Bay Area audiences may...
Guilhem Fourty brings his quartet to Mr. Tipple's Recording Studio with a biography that reads like a masterclass in jazz immersion. The Toulouse-born drummer began playing at age five, studied at the Toulouse Conservatory and Jean Jaurès University, and earned a Berklee College of Music scholarship at 19 — where he was mentored by Ralph...
Guilhem Fourty brings his quartet to Mr. Tipple's Recording Studio with a biography that reads like a masterclass in jazz immersion. The Toulouse-born drummer began playing at age five, studied at the Toulouse Conservatory and Jean Jaurès University, and earned a Berklee College of Music scholarship at 19 — where he was mentored by Ralph...
Will Bernard brings his quartet to Mr. Tipples Recording Studio. Bernard is an inventive guitarist known for blending jazz, funk, rock, and avant-garde styles. A longtime collaborator with Charlie Hunter, he has released numerous solo albums showcasing groove-driven improvisation, rich tone, and boundary-pushing compositions, earning respect across experimental and contemporary jazz scenes. Deszon Claiborne |...